Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-08-03
The Next Tariff Bill,

dtltHltUn tut CODblu6IdltOu Vi all qucs
tons relating to taxation, says the Louis
vile Courier-Journal. Three times Mr..
Randall and the opponents of tariff
revision have been able to defeat mild
measures of reform. Mr.. Morrison's
bills were drafted on the principle of
slight alterations. neither one providing
for reduction of more than $4,000,
900. The next bill must secure reduc>
ton of three times that sum.
Hence. there is less objection now and
then on the part of the so-called free
traders to a repeal of the tax on tobacco
as practical measure. Certainly if, by
a concession of this character, practical
unepimity can be secured on bill which
will reduce the taxation on imports $50.
900 900, no genuine tariff reformer would
hesitate 10 make it.
1t is idle to expect the support of Mr..
Randall Tor any measure of tax reduc
ton which would satisfy the democratic
party, but We believe that with the res
peal of the tobacco tax the representa-
lives who have been inclined to follow
him itno the republican camp will turn
back to the support of democratic meas
ures. In his letter to the St. Louis Re
publican Mr. Randall in effect says that
the majority must yield to his demand
for the entire abolition of the internal
tax system, as a condition precedent to
any tariff revision. He says. in answer
to questions as to the practicabillty of a
caucus measure:
But nothing can be done in the
future, as nothing was done in the past,
if the house is organized as heretofore,
deliberately, it would seem, on the theory
that the dictum OF few so~called leaders
not without the suspicion of represent
ing other interests must be taken with
out question and accepted in every point
and as an alternative, if 1t be rejected,
that then nothing shall be permitted to
be done
In the past Mr.. Randall and Mr.. Nc
Adoo have sought to dictate to the party;
they have openly defied the majority, and
have voted with the united republicans
to thwart all democratic measures. How
can the house be organized except by a
majority against Mr.. Randall! Among
the democrats there has been too much
hesitation in dealing with him Hesita-
ton next winter means disintegration
and utter Generalization.
Mr.. Jefferson. when the tariff duties
averaged IS per cent. aad the internal
taxes less than a million, gross, and cost,
ing about half that sum to collect, urged
the entire abolition OF the internal taxes.
Now we have tariff averaging 46 per
cent and an internal tax yielding. above
all expenses. S125, 100000, Yet Mr.
Randall urges MIR. Jefferson as his auth
GRITTY in demanding the entire abolition of
internal taxes, which would be an indefi>
mite posrponement of all questions
relating to tariff reform. Mr. Ran
dali is not statesmen; he is
an artful dodger. He is seeking to ad-
vance, not the interests of tbs democratic
party, but of his republica masters, who
put him IN congress. and who keep him
there But Mr.. RandalPs tax TO abolish
the whisky tax will not succeed. He
cannot find enough republicans to Join
with him in that raid to make success
possible. Free whisky and taxed
clothing" is not battle cry that will raj
ly the people of any section. No bill
will pass the next house which is not ap-
proved by the democratic caucus. That
bill will be drawn in accordance with the
recommendations of the president and
the secretary of the treasury. 1t will
combine the repeal of the tobacco tax
with tariff reductions of something over
500 600 900 Such q bill will have al
most unanimous vote in the caucus.
We do not believe that the united repub-
lican party can be arraVed against it in
the next house; but, if so, on that meas
ure, the measure of the democratic adj
mipistration, Endorsed by the democratic
caucus the next presidential election
will be fought.
If, in the meantime, the accumulation
in the treasury should precipitate COM
mercial panic, the opponents of relief
will have to take The consequences.